YOU CANNOT SACK JACKIE
United should back their under-fire boss, declares Houston
FOR Peter Houston, the warning signs about downsizing at Dundee United were l oud and clear in January 2013. Announcing his decision to stand down at the end of that season due to budget cuts he deemed unacceptable, the then Tannadice manager vowed he would not be the boss who took high-flying United back to lowly league finishes of ninth and 11th.
Those words of warning did not immediately come to fruition, with Houston’s successor Jackie McNamara (below) leading United to top- six finishes and back-toback Scottish Cup and League Cup Finals.
But recent events have perhaps shown Houston to be more perceptive than he was given credit for at the time.
In the summer of 2014, United made £6million from the summer sales of Ryan Gauld (to Sporting Lisbon) and Andrew Robertson (to Hull City), with McNamara instructed to go down the route of signing fresh promising youngsters.
But after his three best players were sold to Celtic in the first half of 2015, with Gary Mackay-Steven, Stuart Armstrong and Nadir Ciftci raking in a combined £3.5million, the Tannadice side now finds itself amid a deeply-worrying run of just four wins in 22 games.
Last Tuesday night, McNamara’s starting line-up in the Dundee derby had an average age of just 21.7.
And that inexperience showed when they shipped two goals in the last nine minutes to slump to a moralesapping 2-2 draw to city rivals Dundee.
Worse was to follow four days later when United were humiliated 4-0 by a Hamilton side favoured by many to be relegated.
And amid what McNamara admitted was the worst performance of his tenure, a minority of away fans at New Douglas Park — fuelled also perhaps by the revelation last season that McNamara received a cut from player sales — chanted for their manager to go.
Now boss of Falkirk, Houston says he has long since buried the hatchet with United chairman Stephen Thompson.
But yesterday he cautioned the Tannadice board that a selling club needs to back its under-fire manager to complete his latest rebuilding job.
‘I think it would be foolish for the chairman or the board (to sack McNamara),’ said Houston.
‘What I said when I left was maybe wrong at the time, but the fact is if you get your best players sold, then you need to be given time to build a new team.
‘Jackie has taken United to two cup finals, so he has shown he can do a very good job.
‘However, he has lost Gauld, Mackay-Steven, Armstrong and Ciftci. They were the most exciting four guys in the United team over the last two years.
‘The fans still demand success but Jackie’s problem is that young players are inconsistent and there will be knocks along the way.
‘ I watched United against Dundee last midweek for Radio Scotland and they were terrific at times in the second half. ‘ But sometimes younger players are great a nd sometimes they hit a brick wall, like at Hamilton on Saturday.
‘Then, it’s the manager who takes the brunt of it but Jackie has earned the r i ght to get t i me to rebuild. ‘And who i s to say United won’t go out against Celtic at Tannadice on Saturday and get a result?’ While that 4- 0 l oss to Accies was undoubtedly an extremely painful one for United, Houston insists it is wrong to say McNamara’s side had been thumped by no-hopers.
‘I always knew Hamilton would be a tough game,’ he said.
‘We played them at Falkirk in a pre-season match and they were brilliant. We lost 3-2 but we scored a late goal to make the scoreline a bit closer. I have to say they were absolutely superb.
‘ I have seen a l ot of people tipping them to go down this season but I would be betting on Hamilton to stay up and also avoid the play-offs.’
Houston knows all about being a Dundee United manager and losing his best talents to bigger clubs, with players like David Goodwillie, Craig Conway and Danny Swanson all departing during his tenure.
Scott Allan was another who broke through under Houston at Tannadice, departing for West Bromich Albion after just eight first-team games.
Last week, Rangers supporter Allan left Hibs, snubbing a move to Ibrox in favour of a switch to Celtic Park.
There are those who believe the 23-year- old will merely make up
the numbers at Parkhead but Houston — an ex-Celtic scout — believes his former Tannadice prospect can make the same impact as Mackay- Steven and Armstrong.
‘I think Scott will get his chance at Celtic,’ said Houston. ‘They like to rotate their squad and I know Scott will handle Premier League football.
‘ He may also get a taste of the Champions League at Celtic. Mackay-Steven and Armstrong have taken the move to Parkhead in their stride and I see no reason why Scott can’t make a similar impact.’